Impatiens plant named ‘Balfushimglo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balfusimglo’, characterized by its light yellow-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatienswalleriana×Impatiens auricoma.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfusimglo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana×Impatiensauricoma and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfusimglo’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during September 1999. The objective of the breeding program wasthe development of Impatiens hybrid cultivars with numerous flowers,unique flower coloration and flower shape, excellent basal branching,and an upright, compact to moderate growth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatienswalleriana breeding selection designated 9516-4, not patented,characterized by its medium coral-colored flowers, medium green-coloredfoliage, and upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is the proprietary Impatiens auricoma breeding selectiondesignated 193, not patented, characterized by its medium yellow-coloredflowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The newcultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant withinthe progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2001 in acontrolled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMarch 2001 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfusimglo’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Light yellow-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and flower shape and from plants of the maleparent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Fusion™‘Balfusglo’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,168. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balfusglo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller flowers than plants        of ‘Balfusglo’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Balfusglo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfusimglo’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balfusimglo’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balfusimglo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Feb. 14, 2006 between 9:00a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch potsfor 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.)during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.)during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana×Impatiens auricoma    cultivar Balfusimglo.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding            selection designated 9516-4, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens auricoma breeding            selection designated 193, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 11.9 cm. Width: Approximately 35.6 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately            11.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.1 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 2.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of            young and mature stems: 146C with streaks of 187B primarily            at nodes.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 11. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Lower leaves alternate and upper leaves are in            whorls.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and            leaves are perpendicular to an obtuse angle to stem. Shape:            Elliptic. Margin: Crenate with ciliation. Apex: Acuminate.            Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature            leaf at center of stem: Approximately 7.3 cm. Width of            mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 5.0 cm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper            surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 138C. Color            of lower surface of young foliage: Between 138B and 138C            with venation of 138C. Color of upper surface of mature            foliage: 137A with venation of 138D. Color of lower surface            of mature foliage: Between 138B and 138C with venation of            138D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.4 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 138D with an            overlay of 187D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfusimglo’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            3 to 5 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 18. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 5.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: 15D.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Oval, cupped when first open, becoming            flatter with age. Length: Approximately 3.6 cm. Width:            Approximately 2.7 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.2 cm. Borne:            Above and below the foliage.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape of upper petal: Cucullate. Shape            of lateral and lower petals: Obovate. Aspect: Cupped.            Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex of upper petal:            Emarginate. Apex of lateral and lower petals: Obtuse. Base            of upper petal: Truncate. Base of lateral and lower petals:            Attenuate. Length of upper petal: Approximately 1.5 cm.            Width of upper petal: Approximately 1.3 cm. Length of            lateral petals: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width of lateral            petals: Approximately 1.5 cm. Length of lower petals:            Approximately 1.7 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately            1.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color            of upper surface when first open and fully open: 10C with an            eye of 46A. Lateral petals have a faint spot of 32B near the            lower edge, and lower petals have a spot of 32B on lower            portion. Color of lower surface when first open and fully            open: 10C.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower, double-tipped. Aspect:            Moderately curved downward. Length: Approximately 1.6 cm.            Diameter at tip: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 1C at flower            base transitioning to 144D at tip.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 2.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, with one fused to base of            upper petal. Shape of lateral sepals: Elliptic. Shape of            lower sepal: Ovate. Base of lower sepal is modified to form            a spur. Apex of all sepals: Acuminate. Length of lateral            sepals: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of lateral sepals:            Approximately 5.5 mm. Length of lower sepal: Approximately            1.6 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals: Glabrous. Color            of lateral sepals: 1D transitioning to 144C at apex. Color            of lower sepal: 3A with 144C at tip and streaks of 46A at            base of upper surface.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, fused around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Oval.            Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 13C.            Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 5.6 mm. Stigma            shape: 5-pointed star. Stigma color: Colorless, translucent.            Style color: Colorless, translucent. Ovary texture:            Glabrous. Ovary color: 149A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Impatiens has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfusimglo’,substantially as herein shown and described.